Two Student Activists Start Their Prison Terms in Babol

Student activists told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that Northern Iran security and judicial organizations continue their increasing pressure on activists. According to their report, last Tuesday morning, Nima Nahvi, a student at Noshirvani Industrial University in Babol and Hossein Jalil Nataj, a student at Babol Medical Sciences University, turned themselves in to serve their prison sentences at Mati Kolai prison in Babol.

The two student activists have each been sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment and a one year suspension from education. Nahvi who is a member of the Noshirvani Industrial University’s Islamic Association, was arrested during the post-election unrest and charged with “actions against national security.” Nataj was arrested on the baseless charge of planting a bomb at Babol Medical Sciences University. Both students were detained at different Intelligence Ministry detention centers, in Sari and Babol.

Quoting a false news item from the Iranian Students Bulletin, Fars News Agency, affiliated with pro-Ahmadinejad security organizations, claimed that seven imprisoned Noshirvani Industrial University students, one Payam-e-Nur student, and two Babol Medical Sciences University students were arrested before they were able to plant a bomb at Babol Medical Sciences University. Fars further claimed that the student at the Medical Sciences University is “Farshad A.”, whose father is an active Mojahedin-e Khalgh Organization (MKO) member in Iraq’s Camp Ashraf.

Currently there are five university students at Mati Kolai prison in Babol. Previously, Mohsen Barzegar (former Cultural Secretary of the Noshirvani Unviersity Islamic Association), Iman Sedighi (former Political Secretary of Noshirvani University Islamic Association), and Mohammad Esmaeelzadeh of Payam-e-Nur University in Babol, were serving their sentences there.

Recently, Barzegar was attacked by dangerous criminals in the prison and sent to the infirmary. Also, due to pressures from his interrogations, Iman Sedighi developed stomach bleeding. Families of the two students have not been able to visit them so far. According to the student activist report, two students are in critical physical condition and Babol judicial authorities refuse to allow them temporary medical release for treatment.